Trump Heads to Scotland for Trade Talks – and Tee Time

US President Donald Trump is scheduled to arrive in Scotland on Friday, embarking on a visit that blends diplomacy and personal leisure, specifically his enduring passion for golf—a sport he both adores and profits from through his family’s real estate empire.

During his stay, the 79-year-old billionaire will reside at two luxury golf resorts owned by the Trump Organisation:

• Turnberry, located on Scotland’s western coast
• Aberdeen, a port city in the northeast

His trip will also include a planned—but still unconfirmed—meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, prior to an expected return to the US on Tuesday.

Trade on the Table

Trade relations between the United Kingdom and the United States are set to feature prominently during Trump’s discussions with Starmer. Although the UK has so far escaped the heavy tariffs imposed by Trump on numerous economies, uncertainty looms.

Despite not sharing Trump’s love of golf—Starmer is a noted football fan—he has managed to stay in the US leader’s good graces. During a recent visit to the White House, he presented a letter from King Charles III, formally inviting Trump for a state visit from 17 to 19 September.

Escaping Controversy at Home

Trump’s Scotland trip comes at a time of growing domestic pressure. He faces renewed controversy over his historic connections to Jeffrey Epstein, the late financier and convicted sex offender.

A report in The Wall Street Journal cited a “bawdy” letter Trump allegedly sent to Epstein in 2003. In apparent retaliation, the White House excluded the Journal from the press pool accompanying the president to Scotland.

The visit also provides Trump with an opportunity to temporarily distance himself from internal criticism, including anger from supporters over the lack of transparency surrounding Epstein-related case files.

Protests and Tensions in Scotland

Trump’s professed affection for Scotland, rooted in his maternal heritage, is not universally reciprocated.

• Protests are planned for Saturday in Aberdeen and Edinburgh, prompting heightened police presence.
• In March, his Turnberry resort was vandalised with the graffiti “GAZA IS NOT 4 SALE”, a backlash against his controversial suggestion to relocate Palestinians and develop Gaza as luxury property.

Controversial Expansion and Business Blurring

The Trump Organisation plans to open a new golf course in Balmedie, Aberdeenshire. This project has drawn opposition from local residents and environmental groups, concerned about overdevelopment and ecological impact.

This visit again highlights Trump’s long-criticised habit of blurring public office with personal business interests. Since returning to power in January, scrutiny has intensified over his commercial ventures abroad.

According to a May report by the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW):

• 21 Trump-branded international development projects are in the pipeline for his second term.
• The Trump Organisation’s ethics policy, published in January, does not prohibit foreign deals with private investors—a significant departure from the self-imposed moratorium during his first presidency.

Trump’s Scottish visit—combining high-level political meetings with time on the golf course—once again underscores the complex intersection between power, business, and personal legacy, as he continues to navigate global diplomacy from the clubhouse as much as the podium.